Listen to a sample
The Monsters We Defy
- Author
- Leslye Penelope
- Narrator
- Shayna Small
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Publish Date
- 30 August 2022
- Run Time
- 11 hours 31 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
'This gorgeous historical fantasy combines a folkloric bent with a truly excellent heist' Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince
A dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history and romance.
Clara Johnson can talk to spirits - a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that's left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.
Clara can't pull off this daring heist alone. She'll need the help of an unlikely team: from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody, to an aging actor who can change his face.
But as conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one - an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life.
Praise for The Monsters We Defy:
'Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed' Publishers Weekly
'A high-stakes, delightful read' Buzzfeed
'An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell' Justina Ireland
Reader reviews:
'Omg this book is a MUST READ!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Absolutely wonderful' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'One of my favourite books of the year' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'With seamlessly blended fantasy and history, complex characters, and a little touch of romance, this is a practically perfect read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Glorious! Absolutely gorgeous!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
' I loooooooved this book. I love a good heist novel and this one was delightful' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I loved this book and I know it's one I'll be going back to reread in the future, It was an absolute blast to read, a mystery to solve heart pounding suspense, a little romance, and absolutely incredible characters. I can't recommend this book enough!!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I adored this book! It's witty, adventurous, romantic and heartbreaking ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Critics Review
-
Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic!
P. Djèlí Clark, author of A MASTER OF DJINN
-
This gorgeous historical fantasy combines a folkloric bent with a truly excellent heist . . . This book has one of the cleverest magic systems I've come across, plus a delightful array of performers and outcasts
Holly Black
-
An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell
Justina Ireland
-
Stolen destinies, dubious bargains, and unlikely groups of allies, all in a city whose history deserves more fame; a fresh and engaging take on historical fantasy
Marie Brennan
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
Masterfully crafted. This smart and entertaining magical heist novel hits all the right notes
T. L. Huchu
-
Clara is a heroine for the ages, and her 1920s Black Washington society, both the glamour and the grit, is so compellingly evoked it's as though Penelope has given us a peek behind the veil to hear the tales of our ancestors
Alaya Dawn Johnson
-
A high-stakes, delightful read
Buzzfeed
-
Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed
Publishers Weekly
-
A great blending of realistic characters, spiritualism and magic, fantasy, mystery, a heist story and a strong element of romance. I love it when I encounter a book of a type I don't often read and get completely carried away with. And The Monsters We Defy is such a book that draws you into a brilliantly recreated historical world
SciFi Mind
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Leslye Penelope
- Narrator
- Shayna Small
- Duration
- 11 hours 31 minutes
- Release Date
- 30 August 2022
- ISBN
- 9781405557344
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Genre
- Historical fantasy, Urban fantasy
Synopsis
'Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic!' P. Djèlí Clark, author of A Master of Djinn'This gorgeous historical fantasy combines a folkloric bent with a truly excellent heist' Holly Black, author of The Cruel PrinceA dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history and romance.Clara Johnson can talk to spirits - a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that's left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.Clara can't pull off this daring heist alone. She'll need the help of an unlikely team: from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody, to an aging actor who can change his face. But as conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one - an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life. Praise for The Monsters We Defy:'Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed' Publishers Weekly'A high-stakes, delightful read' Buzzfeed'An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell' Justina IrelandReader reviews:'Omg this book is a MUST READ!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Absolutely wonderful' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'One of my favourite books of the year' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'With seamlessly blended fantasy and history, complex characters, and a little touch of romance, this is a practically perfect read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Glorious! Absolutely gorgeous!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐' I loooooooved this book. I love a good heist novel and this one was delightful' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I loved this book and I know it's one I'll be going back to reread in the future, It was an absolute blast to read, a mystery to solve heart pounding suspense, a little romance, and absolutely incredible characters. I can't recommend this book enough!!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I adored this book! It's witty, adventurous, romantic and heartbreaking ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.